GREECE - Europe by Eurail 2015: Touring Europe by Train - page 286

Getting Around in Athens
Getting around in Athens is easy with its Metro and extensive bus and trolley-bus
system. Obtain a public transport map showing routes and Metro stations at any of
the tourist information offices. A single ticket is €1.40. A 24-hour ticket that covers
the entire urban network (except airport bus lines) is €4.00. Visit www.ametro.gr .
The Metro was modernized and expanded in preparation for the 2004 Olympics in
Athens. Along with the “Athens-Piraeus Electric Railway” (ISAP), there are three
lines. Additional services and expansions are still taking place. Progress was
slowed somewhat by archaeological finds. You will marvel at the extensive use of
marble in the Syntagma Station.
Sights/Attractions/Tours
Most of the tours offered are bus tours that include some walking. Consequently,
you should inquire as to the tour's duration and terrain before signing up, and don't
forget to wear comfortable walking shoes. To avoid the daytime heat, select an
evening tour, when available. Most of the tourist attractions are illuminated.
The city tourist office is an excellent source for information concerning other
areas of the country. Be certain to inform the attendant you speak with that you
hold a Eurail pass. Otherwise you might find yourself signing up for a bus tour
when a rail trip would suffice for the transportation to the site you want to see.
Although there is more to Athens than the Acropolis, it should be the first place
to visit during your stay in the city. If you use the ISAP electric railway, detrain at
Thission for the Acropolis. All else in and around Athens becomes secondary to
this symbol of classic perfection that has stood majestically above Athens for about
2,500 years. Don't rush your visit, or you will regret it. Plan to spend an entire day,
and if you go there during the summer months, go prepared with some sunscreen,
sun hats, bottled water, and comfortable walking shoes.
The Parthenon is the focal point of the Acropolis, but there is much more to
see. Study the Propylaea, the impressive entrance to the sanctuary, along with the
Temple of Athena-Niki and the elegant row of maidens along the facade of the
Erechtheion. You can peer down on the Theater of Dionysius from the rim of the
Acropolis, but go there later to feel its “presence.”
During the tourist season, a light-and-sound show of the Acropolis is presented
in several languages. Don't miss it. The program in English starts at 2100. The
tourist office can provide you with more details. You view the show from an oppos-